A chef who downed several drinks before driving dangerously and running another motorist off the road has been warned he faces being sent to prison.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told William Reilly: “Your driving is the kind of nightmare every other motorist fears.
“I’m thinking about a custodial sentence.”
Reilly, 40, was on his way home from work in St Andrews when he subjected other motorists to road rage before crashing.
Cars ‘spun out of control’
Fiscal depute Sarah High told Dundee Sheriff Court that other motorists became aware of the extremely aggressive nature of Reilly’s driving.
She said: “He was seen to try and takeover at speed.
“The passenger in the other vehicle shouted at the driver to watch out because there was no room for him.
“The witness braked hard. The accused’s BMW pulled in sharply, striking the front offside of her car with his car.
“They both spun out of control.”
The prosecutor said: “The accused’s vehicle mounted the verge and struck a stone wall, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and the wall.
“He then spun back off the verge and re-entered both carriageways and came to a stop in the northbound carriageway.
“Traffic in both directions required to come to a halt. The airbags deployed in both vehicles and there was extensive damage.
“The accused got out of his vehicle and spoke to the people in the other car. He appeared to be acting in an erratic manner.”
Road rage chef said no to needles
Ms High said police arrived and confirmed with Reilly that he had been driving the BMW.
Reilly and the occupants of the other car were then taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
“He refused to provide a sample of blood, stating that he would not put needles in his body,” she said. “He was offered the chance to provide a urine sample but refused that as well.”
Reilly, from Dundee, admitted driving his BMW 116 dangerously on the A91 Guardbridge to St Andrews road in Fife on 8 September 2021. He admitted tailgating other motorists and gesticulating at them to get out of his way.
He admitted passing on a roundabout, trying to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic when it was dangerous, colliding with a car, mounting the verge and striking a wall. He also admitted failing to provide a specimen.
Solicitor Kevin Hampton, defending, said: “He was working in St Andrews as a chef and was returning home. He had finished work and had taken some alcohol.
“He felt sufficient time had passed for him to be safe to drive. There may have been some difficulty with the other person’s driving before this.
“The red mist descended and this followed and was clearly dangerous driving. He accepts he refused to give a sample. He is no longer working.”
Sheriff Carmichael deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports.
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